PSYCHOLOGY

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Results Mean Mode Measures of Central Tendency Descriptive Statistics Median Range In this sub-section of your Results section, you would give a summarised account of the data collecting using descriptive statistics. WARNING: At no point in this section, would you include the raw scores (for example, number of words remembered by each participant) – these would need to appear in the appendices section of your report. You would need to calculate the measures of central tendency from your data. However, there is an error in one of the words being in the wrong box for measures of central tendency. Which one of the above is a measures of dispersion? And what is its partner in crime in examining measures of dispersion? The next step would be to write what you have found. For example, what does the calculated mean suggest about your data? Is the calculated mean bigger in one condition of your experiment in comparison to the other? At this point, the best tip is to indicate what is happening rather than the why. The why is what you will be exploring in the discussion section of your report. In order, to allow the reader to grasp a better understanding of your data. It is best also to present visual representations of your data. These graphs would need to be clearly labelled. Activity – Draw a rough bar chart sketch of how you think the predicted results (as per your alternative hypothesis) may appear. Clearly, label the graph, for example, indicate whether it is a graph to illustrate the mean of your data or standard deviation. Label each conditions of your experiment clearly. 14 Copyright © OCR 2015
Results The key to this section is using the correct statistical test to analyse your data. This is essential and can make and break the whole of your report if incorrect tests or insufficient details are present. The important part is to figure out the following: 1. Type of data - nominal, ordinal or interval. 2. Type of Experimental Design/Independent or related items. 3. Is it a test of difference, association or correlation? There are five common non-parametric statistical tests (which don’t follow strict criterion relating to things such as the mean and standard deviation that are used: • Mann Whitney U test. • Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests. • Chi Square. • Binomial Sign test. • Spearman’s Rho. Inferential Statistics When analysing your data, you need to justify why you have used the statistical test in question for data analysis. Furthermore, you need to include the level of significance. The most common level in psychology is 0.05. This indicates the results obtained in your study are because of the 95% chance of manipulation of your independent variable, the rest 5% is due to other factors. When your results are significant, this indicates that you as a researcher can accept your alternative hypothesis and reject your null hypothesis. You would need to explicitly indicate this. In addition, all calculations of your statistical test analysis would not appear in this section. Where do you think they should go? Activity – On the basis of your aim and hypothesis, experimental design and type of data – which statistical test would you conduct for your data? 15 Copyright © OCR 2015
Page 1 and 2: Qualification Accredited AS LEVEL a
Page 3 and 4: Setting the Scene Setting the Scene
Page 5 and 6: Why is psychological report writing
Page 7 and 8: The Abstract The Abstract Like the
Page 9 and 10: The Introduction The Introduction s
Page 11 and 12: The Method The Method The Method se
Page 13: Results Results The Results section
Page 17 and 18: Have you referenced? Have you refer
Page 19 and 20: Have you referenced? Have a go… P
Page 21: The small print We’d like to know

PSYCHOLOGY

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